Monday, April 21, 2008

Who's reading?

Sometimes I feel like I know my readers because I have so many sweet people that comment regularly; but then I check out my stats and I see that I have hundreds of people coming through every day. Really? Are that many people interested in my little world? I'm sure at least half of those people come here on accident! LOL! They have no idea what they are getting into!

For the last few days I have been trying to imagine what you are like, those of you that really read what I write. Sorry about that by the way, I wish I could offer you all better grammar, punctuation, and content! LOL! I also have people I know in real life that tell me they read my blog. A lot of the time I am surprised and it makes me wonder who else reads that I know in real life? So can we play a little game? I would like for everyone (please, if you have the time) to comment and tell me a little about yourself. If you know me in real life speak up! I will be commenting in the comment section of this post. I'm so excited! I can't wait to get to know you!

Now let me tell you heirloom sewing folk about this dress. I made it for Maddie to wear to a wedding. The yoke has pulled thread work that I just love! Crochet insertion (the pattern will be in my second book), with silk satin ribbon running through. I really like the lacy look of this insertion. The fabric is a peachy pink colored voile. The skirt has six pleats in the center and gathers on the sides.

NOTE: If you want to comment but do not have a blogger account, comment as anonymous and leave your name.

Karen,I love your blog! You are so much fun! The pattern in the yoke is called pulled thread work. You literally pull threads out of the fabric in the pattern of your choice, then you go back and bind the threads that are left. You are left with that look, kind of like entredeux.

I'm one of those anonymous readers! I don't remember how I found your blog. My two daughters are grown, but when they were smaller, I would do some smocking and heirloom sewing for them. Now, even though I have three nieces under the age of four, I'm not able to make special things for them because they get too many hand-me-downs. It makes me sad. I did smock a nightgown for my oldest daughter for Christmas; all I need to do is sew it together. And I have one in the works for me. I need to get my daughters married off so they can give me some grandchildren to sew for!

My passion right now is counted cross stitch. I enjoy a variety of crafts, depending on my mood!

Hi! I came across your blog through the MP forum. I try to stop by every day just to see what you are up to. I am a SAHM of 2 with a Coast Guard husband who is often gone on training or deployed, I'm almost done with graduate work through an online program, love to sew, starting to smock, wish I could sew more and LOVE anything and everything that is handmade. I plan on starting a blog when I am done with my classes (end of year), so I can share with the world my passions and friends and family have a chance to keep up with us since we have to live away from everyone we love. Oh, and I won your book and I LOVE it and can't wait for the next one!

Not sure how I found your blog... but i've been lurking for quite a while now. I just started sewing again, live in saint louis and also make candles and bath &body products for fun and sometime profit :).

Silver, I just visited your blog. You just keep sewing, all those techniques come over time and practice. Everybody has to start somewhere, and I promise we have all had a FEW duds!-----------------------------------Dangermom,That is so interesting! You are a librarian, so are you the stereotypical quiet as a mouse librarian?-----------------------------------Ginny,I read your last post on your blog. I hope your husband is feeling better soon! I will be praying for him. Thank you so much for commenting.-----------------------------------Karen,I remember you! Have you used the book for any projects yet? If you have send me a picture I would love to see!

I live in Alaska, and am running a b &b this summer, in addition to staying home with my two year old.I like to sew and knit. I found your blog through another blog called the Rowdy Pea. You're so inspiring! I really need to start sewing again!

Megh,Alaska! WOW! We haven't had more than 1/2" of snow in 10 years, I bet you get tired of it. I have always wanted to stay in a bed and breakfast. I tried to talk Ben into it once, but where we were going did not have one. Maybe one day.--------------------------------- You guys are so interesting. You just never know who you might meet!

Hi there. I found your site one day while looking for an heirloom sewing pattern. I am a mama to 2, one boy/one girl. I smocked and did heirloom sewing for my daughter until she outgrew it at about age 10. I got burnt out on smocking after making 11 Easter outfits one spring for my kids and all my friends kids. So now the kids are too old for that type of clothing so I knit and scrapbook.Live in Ft Worth, TX now but grew up outside Nashville TN and miss the old southern ways most of all. Love you work.Have a great day.

Tracy P. here. For all of you who don't know, Sam has taught many of her friends to sew. She is a wonderful person in real life. Very sweet and generous with her time. Sam, I can't wait until summer break so I can join ya'll. Keep up the good work.

Tracy

P.S. You are going to have to show me how you did the yoke on that dress. I have to sew Camille a dress for kindergarten graduation and that would look really pretty on it.

hey sam! it's danielle. i read your blog but don't always take the time to comment. corgan has been keeping me on my toes lately....i seem to constantly be worn out. i can't imagine how you do it with all your kiddos! you're my hero! :)

Dana in DFW, TX. Love the way you love to spend time with your family... I could take lessons there. I don't remember how I found your blog, but I'm sure it was somewhere associated with heirloom sewing.

I found your blog about a month ago by Google-ing 'handmade dresses'. I'm newly married and want to learn to sew my own clothing (I really hate most of what I find in stores). I love all your stories about your family. My husband and I don't live near family so it's nice to see a family with little kids go about daily life, even if it is just bits and pieces. Plus all the little dresses give me 'warm fuzzies'. :)

I found my way here through oliverrain's blog. Your baby dresses are darling! Good thing you had little girls to use all those great skills on. I sew, embroider - machine and hand, and crochet, too. Thanks for the tutorials. It's always good to have a new idea! -- Michele

Hi Samantha....it's me Cindy from Sew Blessed. I believe I found your blog through the Sew Beautiful forum quite awhile ago. I love to always see what you are working on!!! I vote for a tutorial on the pulled threads!!! Also I know very few people that sew children's clothes and heirloom garments....so we all have to stick together to encourage and inspire each other!!!!

My firt comment here to say hello after your post. I am from Paris France.I came through sugarcityjournal and just discovered your blog and will surely return.Loulou's mum from http://astuvu.canalblog.com/

Hi Samantha! You maybe know me a little bit, i'm Sparkle on the Martha Pullen forum where I found your site - and I bought your book!! I love your so-sweet designs! I'm almost old and a wanna-be grama but none of my grown-up kids are cooperating and they're almost getting too old! So I can look at your sweet babies' pictures and pretend they're my grandkids!! The new pink dress is darling and as much as I love to sew and do handwork I really don't like doing pulled work or anything I have to count. That is such a unique application! Thansk for you blog and a little peak at your daily life - I relaly enjoy itBarbara O from Richmond,VA

Harriett, I'm going to email you today, but I wanted to say wow! Yes! That sounds great! I will pay for shipping. That is just too sweet! Thank you so much for thinking of me.xoxox----------------------------------- Mary, Thanks! If I could only work a camera like you.----------------------------------Tracy, I can't wait till the summer when we can get together again! Rae put those outfits you made on the girls yesterday. They were so cute she emailed me a picture! Those little skirts are just precious. Just call me when you are out of school, I can teach you the pulled thread work. OOOH and crochet too!

----------------------------------Danielle,You just do what you have to do. That's how I survive! When I had just one, one seemed like a lot. Then when I had two and someone would keep one for the day, one child seemed like a dream! Now that I have three, I am so used to being with them that when I don't have kids I feel lost. If someone keeps just one I feel like I'm missing someone and I'm constantly looking around for that one child. I think you just get used to it after a while. LOL!

----------------------------------Dana, Thank you that is so sweet of you. I had a very good example growing up. My mom always loved being with us too. We were always out on some wild adventure!-----------------------------------Still learning,I laughed out loud when I saw the bedtime bracelet, that was so funny!-----------------------------------Jenlyn,How crazy are the clothes in stores right now! It's insane! Your Easter dress was very impressive.

I stumbled onto your blog one day and just fell in love. I wish we were neighbors so that you could teach me how to do all that wonderful crochet work! In the meanwhile, I did purchase one of your books, so hopefully, that will get me started. I am a homeschooling mama to seven (two of them girls), so I get plenty of opportunities to use my smocking and embroidery skills making them pretty clothes. Even my two youngest (boys) get sweet, little knickers and rompers, much to the chagrin of their older brothers! Anyway, please keep blogging as you are so inspirational and fun to read. ~~Angela

I don't recall, either, how exactly I came across your blog in the world of a bzillion blogs.I love vintage, heirloom sewing and am always amazed at how alike we seem by your descriptions of yourself.I blog here: www.cultivatinghome.blogspot.comBlessings,Hannah

Calico Daisy,Do you have beauty pins? I saw all your engraving and it is beautiful. We could get beauty pins engraved at a local shop until about a year ago. Now we can't find them any more.-----------------------------------Cindy, I feel like I know you! You are so sweet to always leave comments. I love the ruffle on that last outfit you posted. It's such a cute detail.-----------------------------------Sabera,Thank you so much! And thanks for the skirt tutorial.-----------------------------------Kristiane, It's very nice to meet you too!-----------------------------------Loulou's Mum,Hello! Sugar city is one of my favorite blogs right now. Those girls are super talented!----------------------------------

Alisa,I need your help! I'm trying to talk Micah Craft into starting an Etsy shop for his art work. He needs a little encouragement. You should start one too! If either of you start an Etsy I will link to you. xo-----------------------------------Barbra,You always make me feel so good! You are always around with a kind word. Thank you so much. -----------------------------------Anonymous,Who knows how to type? I am so stinkin slow! Just join in!-----------------------------------Angela, I wish I had you as a neighbor too. Our neighborhood is mostly older people, we don't have any kids. I wish I had neighbors with kids!-----------------------------------Hannah,I just read some of your blog and we are alike! Your pictures are beautiful.-----------------------------------Molly,I am so grateful for your friendship. The work you do is amazing! I'm so glad that there are people like you in the world.

Hi, Tara from Northern Utah here (originally from BC Canada). I found you by googling 'handmade dress'. I have 3 little girls and have tried my hand at dress making but my sewing skills are put towards quilt making. You remind me so much of a dear friend in Idaho. You two could be twins. And I love your accent.

Howdy Samantha!! What a great idea to invite all of us to introduce ourselves to you - I am happy to do it and to make your acquaintance!! I'm Becky from over at Just Bee 'n Me and I really wish I could remember how I found you :o( But, you have been in my favorites folder under "Crafty Blogs" for some time now and I have been intending to as if I could add your blog to my "Sew Inspiring" bloglist...so now I can take this occasion to ask: "May I..?" I am BLOWN AWAY by your heirloom sewing artistry and crocheting expertise - WOW! Though I haven't got a stitching bone in my body (I'm an illustrator instead), I am still a great admirer of the skill and love I see poured into each of your masterpieces. And I thrill to see a mom and wife as dedicated and loving as you...what a gift to them you are!! (and to all of us!)

I don't remember how I found you (maybe some a pillowcase dress tutorial???), but I am so glad that I did! I love to hear about your family (I am a mom of 3, too) and see all of your beautiful craftsmanship. Thanks for sharing your life. Your love of your family, creativity, and willingness to share is a breath of fresh air. Thank you:)

Becky,I'm coming over and you have to take me to some of your rummage sales! You are a junk goddess.-----------------------------------Team Manager,Thanks for the encouragement. Tell the girls Molly and I said hey!----------------------------------Nicki,Girl we need to get together! We should go to the zoo one day and let the kids play in the water games. They had so much fun together. -----------------------------------Dangermom,I love that! I had a feeling you were not the typical librarian. Anyone who could read my blog would have to be a little quirky. LOL!

Hi! Shelly here again. I found your blog through someone else's, and it's on my list of favorites. I love the spirit of Home and Family that you portray. In our busy world today, nobody I know will admit that they are a "homebody" but me! I love home and the daily "flow" as you put it. I have five grown children and I'm a fifty year old grandma of five. I love to sew and quilt for them all. Home and family bring me great joy, and I love your blog because that's what it's all about.

Hi Samantha - I can't remember how I got to your blog (probably through a comment, through a comment etc !) My name is Natalie and I live on the North East Coast of England - I love reading your blog - Natalie x

Samantha,I think I came to your blog through the MP message board a while ago. I live in Maryland, have 2 daughters 17 and 20. I sewed for them when they were little, but not as much lately. Although, if I had a dime for every dance/prom dress I've hemmed of theirs or their friends I'd be a millionaire! I have 3 waiting now. I tease them that I want granddaughters to sew for now that I have more time.(But not in too much of a hurry) I love heirloom sewing, and since I work part time in a Christian Book and Gift store, I sell Christening gowns there occaisionally. I love your blog, your southern accent, and how you are so easy going with your kids. What memories they will have! Your are a sweet woman, and I feel like I could just sit right down at your kitchen table and have a cup of coffee. xoxoSheila

Samantha, I have "linked" to your blog from the Martha Pullen Sew Beautiful forum. I enjoy reading about your beautiful family and your adventures. I admire the lifestyle you are giving your children. It is a gift they will treasure. I wish I lived in a rural area where my children could play without fear. Your clothing creations are lovely. Soop